After 2 years gap, Allahabad Zoroastrian Association celebrated Tirgan festival with a competition in archery, in honor of the ancient tradition of Tirgan and the memory of Arash Kamangir for sacrificing his life to expand Iran’s borders.
The joyous celebration of Tirgan and the archery competition was held on Friday morning, 10th Tir 1401 (1st of July) in Allaha ad Darb-Mehr. All those who were interested in competing participated in this game. The Maidyoshahem gahanbar prayers, and distribution of prized to the best archery competitors were other parts of this program.
When the name of a day in the month (Zoroastrian calendar) is the same as the name of the month, this day is celebrated by Zoroastrians. Tirgan festival is one of these festivals (on Tir day of Tir month). According to the official calendar this festival falls on 10th of Tir (1st of July).
Like many other ceremonies and celebrations in Iranian culture, Tirgan is connected with a fateful event in the history of ancient Iranians.
Some believe this day to be in memory of the victory of Iranians over Turanians. During the reign of Manuchehr Pishdadi, after capture of many parts of Iran by Afrasiab’s army, it was decided that an arrow would be released by the Iranian army, from the land of Tabarestan, and wherever it landed, the border of Iran and Turan to be determined. So Arash, a brave young Iranian man, released an arrow from his bow with all his strength. According to a myth, this arrow was accompanied by the god of wind, sat on a tree by the Jeyhun River, and determined the border between Iran and Turan.
